I know antonym means opposite, synonym means similar. What's the term for words that sound alike, but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings? Example: 'Breaks' and 'Brakes'??? 1. Your and you’re. This is another mix up you often see, although I suspect it has more to do with carelessness than anything else. Your is possessive, as in, “I believe this is your goat.” You’re is a contraction of you are, as in, “You’re a space donkey.” 2. Capitol and capital.Capitol is the building where politicians debate things like bailouts and wars. Capital is a city. Capital can also be an adjective and mean “terrific” or “punishable by death,” but there’s no point in going into that right now. 3. Its and it’s. Some spelling checkers will flag this one. Its is possessive, as in, “The nightclub’s most stunning feature is its disco ball.” It’s is the contraction of it is, as in, “It’s hard to get my old Ford Woodie running on cold mornings.” 4 Brake and break. I don’t know how these two get mixed up, but I see it all the time. A brake stops your car. A break in your arm hurts like hell. 5. Altogether and all together.Altogether means entirely, as in “My girlfriend’s parents do not altogether approve of my boozing.” All together means that everyone or thing is in one place, as in, “We were all together at our nudist camp to celebrate the summer solstice.” 6. Principal and principle. A principal is the guy who the teacher sends you to see when you misbehave. Principle is a code of conduct, fact or law. “I have no principles so I stole a gun from the principal’s desk even though I understand the principles of right and wrong.” 7. Their, there and they’re. This is another mix up that probably has more to do with carelessness than dopiness. Their is possessive. There is a place. They’re is a contraction of they are. “Their clothes are loose.” “Over there they don’t wear underpants.” “They’re a bunch of loose women.” 8. Desert and dessert. If you leave your military post in Iraq to run off with a camel herder, there’s a good chance you deserted and rode off into the desert. If you decide to go to the mess hall and polish off something yummy after dinner, then it’s a dessert. 9. Affect and effect. Affect means to influence or alter. It’s always a verb. Effect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means the result of an action. As a verb, it means to accomplish or cause. 10. Rein, reign, rain. All three of these can be verbs or nouns. As nouns: A rein is a leather strap you use to control a horse. Reign is the period during which kings and queens lord over their subjects. Rain is something you should have enough sense to get out of. As verbs: Rein means to control a horse. Reign means to be the boss of everyone. Rain means put a damper on a parade.
I always thought that homophones are words with different meanings that sound the same, but are spelt differently and homonyms are words with different meanings that sound different, but are spelt the same.
So a homophone would be - There was a mail from a male.
And a homonym would be - The bandage was wound around the wound.
Words that sound the same but different:
I know antonym means opposite, synonym means similar. What's the term for words that sound alike, but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings? Example: 'Breaks' and 'Brakes'???
1. Your and you’re. This is another mix up you often see, although I suspect it has more to do with carelessness than anything else. Your is possessive, as in, “I believe this is your goat.” You’re is a contraction of you are, as in, “You’re a space donkey.”
2. Capitol and capital. Capitol is the building where politicians debate things like bailouts and wars. Capital is a city. Capital can also be an adjective and mean “terrific” or “punishable by death,” but there’s no point in going into that right now.
3. Its and it’s. Some spelling checkers will flag this one. Its is possessive, as in, “The nightclub’s most stunning feature is its disco ball.” It’s is the contraction of it is, as in, “It’s hard to get my old Ford Woodie running on cold mornings.”
4 Brake and break. I don’t know how these two get mixed up, but I see it all the time. A brake stops your car. A break in your arm hurts like hell.
5. Altogether and all together. Altogether means entirely, as in “My girlfriend’s parents do not altogether approve of my boozing.” All together means that everyone or thing is in one place, as in, “We were all together at our nudist camp to celebrate the summer solstice.”
6. Principal and principle. A principal is the guy who the teacher sends you to see when you misbehave. Principle is a code of conduct, fact or law. “I have no principles so I stole a gun from the principal’s desk even though I understand the principles of right and wrong.”
7. Their, there and they’re. This is another mix up that probably has more to do with carelessness than dopiness. Their is possessive. There is a place. They’re is a contraction of they are. “Their clothes are loose.” “Over there they don’t wear underpants.” “They’re a bunch of loose women.”
8. Desert and dessert. If you leave your military post in Iraq to run off with a camel herder, there’s a good chance you deserted and rode off into the desert. If you decide to go to the mess hall and polish off something yummy after dinner, then it’s a dessert.
9. Affect and effect. Affect means to influence or alter. It’s always a verb. Effect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means the result of an action. As a verb, it means to accomplish or cause.
10. Rein, reign, rain. All three of these can be verbs or nouns. As nouns: A rein is a leather strap you use to control a horse. Reign is the period during which kings and queens lord over their subjects. Rain is something you should have enough sense to get out of. As verbs: Rein means to control a horse. Reign means to be the boss of everyone. Rain means put a damper on a parade.
I always thought that homophones are words with different meanings that sound the same, but are spelt differently and homonyms are words with different meanings that sound different, but are spelt the same.
So a homophone would be - There was a mail from a male.
And a homonym would be - The bandage was wound around the wound.